Four outstanding recent high school graduates have been selected for scholarships from the Charles River Regional Chamber.

This year’s recipients are Tess DeJesus (Newton North High School), Cameron James MacDonald (Watertown resident from Minuteman High School), Isabella Kuang (Needham High School), and Jordan St. Louis (Wellesley High School).

A Newton North High School graduate, Tess DeJesus is a a superstar in her school and community. Her teacher commends the “genuine kindness and emphasis on community building that Tess brought to the classroom every day. Tess works to make the classroom a welcoming place for everyone.” DeJesus spends her free time teaching kids’ karate and volunteering at a local senior center. She plans on taking her love for the community and helping others to double major in Elementary Education and Human Development at Merrimack College this fall. DeJesus says “Working with people is something I’ve always wanted to do.”

Cameron James MacDonald, a Watertown resident and graduate of Minuteman High School, is described as diligent, compassionate, and versatile. While excelling academically, he pursues Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, participates in 5K races, and works in the city’s Public Works department. Additionally, he is a member of the Naval Sea Cadets, the Navy’s youth program. His Commanding Officer says, “As a former SEAL, I feel like this is the kind of guy you want on your team. I believe he will be a highly effective military officer.” James MacDonald aims to continue his training in Marine Transportation at Massachusetts Maritime with hopes of a career in the maritime shipping industry.

A graduate of Needham High School, Isabella Kuang excels in academics and a wide variety of extracurriculars. While attending school, Kuang worked part-time, took piano lessons, interned at the town hall, tutored other students, and participated in student government and other activities, all while maintaining a 4.0 GPA. Kuang’s piano teacher says, “She is not afraid to make and admit mistakes, learn from them, and develop into a strong scholar and musician.” She plans to continue her education at Boston University, studying data science with the goal of earning a master’s degree.

Jordan St. Louis, a 2024 graduate of Wellesley High School, is hard-working, driven and a proven leader. His school counselor describes him as “very humble in his accomplishments and willing to help lift others up to reach their potential. He prefers to lead from behind rather than seeking the spotlight solely for himself.” St. Louis balanced football, track and field, and a rigorous course load during his high school years. He is attending the University of New England to major in criminology, with aspirations of becoming a professional football player or pursuing a career in the legal field.

While academic performance and extracurricular activities are important, the chamber’s Scholarship Committee weighed its decision-making heavily on compelling stories that showed the scholarship would make a meaningful impact in each recipient’s life.

This year, we opened our scholarship to students attending community colleges and other accredited programs beyond traditional four-year universities

Arif Bhimani (Middlesex Savings Bank) chaired this year's scholarship committee. Members included Alexis Avila (Prepped and Polished), Mishawn Davis-Eyen (MassBay Community College), Adrienne Franciosi (Lasell University), Mark Loveless (The Village Bank), Perrin McCormick (Perkins School for the Blind), Josephine McNeil (CAN-DO), and Kevin Ruddy (PTC).

The chamber congratulates DeJesus, James MacDonald, Kuang, and St. Louis on their achievements and wishes them success in college and all their future endeavors.

These chamber high school scholarships were underwritten by NBCU Boston with additional support through our annual partners’ donations to the chamber’s general fund.